After seventeen years together, No Doubt stands as a continual phoenix. Few groups have managed to stay vital for so long. Their story is one of family, hard work, perseverance and celebration. From an unassuming ska outfit in Anaheim, California, to a fixture in the worldwide collective pop psyche, there is no denying how far they have traveled. With the release of all there albums, drummer Adrian Young, guitarist Tom Dumont, bassist Tony Kanal & singer Gwen Stefani finally pause to look back.Being some of the most down-to-earth artists you'd ever want to meet, it is surprising how No Doubt's saga does boder on the fabled. The kudos have been countless: Grammy Award; MTV Video Music Awards; VH1 Vogue Fashion Awards; California Music Awards; chances to work with Elvis Costello, Prince & Outkast; show with the U2 & The Rolling Stones; and finally the key to the city of Anaheim - presented to No Doubt in a lavish ceremony by then Mayor Tom Daly. However, as in all our lives, such sweets moments come tempered by conversely dark downs.Thing began innocently enough with band co-founder Eric Stefani plucking away Madness tuness on the family piano - slowly pulling his sister gwen & other friends into the fold. The 1986-formed group was then struked by tragety just over a year into its career, when original front man John Spence took his own life. Soldering on, inexperienced Gwen eventually transitioned to lone front-woman. They had found acceptance & a following in the underground Southern California ska scene, but later distanced themselves as they felt it had become confiningAfter finally landing a recording contract in 1991, they released a mostly overlooked eponymous debut album a year later. In the midst of recording a make or break sophomore album between 1993 &1995, main songwriter Eric left the group to focus on a burgeoning animation career. The void of his departure was compounded by the end of Tony & Gwen's seven year romantic relationship. At this point, most bands would have packed it in - no one would have blamed them.Again they rose up. Holding on to hope and their Madness/Fishbone-inspired roots - they had to redefine themselves. Over three years & passing through eleven different studios they found their own original voice in an album which would become their breakdown - Tragic Kingdom.The album's heartbreak lyrical focus ("dont speak" would go on to become one of the most poingnant and popular breakup ballads of all time) and their sprightly pop/punk/reggae/'80s - retro musical mix finally found the group a mass audience. Immersed in the sythesized sonics of their new wave youth,the musicians were slowly, but surely pushing their style foward as single after single topped the charts.Afters years of holding their live stage energy, the band retuned to the road with their new arsenal of songs. The sweat poured as the bars turned to clubs, the clubs turned to theaters and the theaters to arenas. To this day, their undeniable live connection continues to deliver the boundless stage magic that has thrilled audiences around the world.
